Mindless Sinner have been part of Sweden’s heavy metal fabric since the early eighties, carrying their sound from the small clubs of Linköping to stages across Europe. Their story runs through name changes, shifting styles and long breaks, yet the band’s core spirit has stayed intact.

In this interview we look back at the key moments that shaped their journey, from the early days of the FWOSHM era to their return in the 2000s and the renewed energy driving them into 2026. It’s a straightforward conversation with a band who have seen trends come and go but never lost sight of why they started in the first place.

Interview

TheNwothm: For those new to the band can you introduce who you are and where you’re from?

M.S: Well, We are a band called Mindless Sinner coming from Linköping a small town in Sweden .

TheNwothm: Can you take us back to the very beginning, when you were still known as Purple Haze and later Genocide? What were those early days like in Linköping’s heavy metal scene?

M.S: There was quite a small but healthy scene back in the day. Many different bands all over the place. We played a lot around our home turf and this was back in 1981 when the NWOBHM exploded just a couple of years earlier.  So we became a part of the FWOSHM (First wave of Swedish heavy metal).

TheNwothm: What inspired the transition to the name Mindless Sinner in 1982, and how did that identity shape your sound?

M.S: We always wanted a good name and after we went from Purple Haze to Genocide we discovered that there was already a band called Genocide. One day a friend of ours just came up with Mindless Sinner so we adapted to that name.And we thought that it sounded more Heavy Metal and that it would fit our music better.

TheNwothm: Your first EP, “Master of Evil” (1983), is still considered a cult classic. What do you remember most about writing and recording it?

M.S: Before second guitarist Jerker Edman joined the band in early -83 we were a 4 piece band and we had a lot of songs written  but after he arrived we started to write better songs as a 5 piece  So we wrote the songs that became the MOE record. We always wanted to record our own record but we never had any money for the studio cost but we won a music contest and the price money was enough to pay for the studio. We were amazed  when we came down to the studio as we had never recorded in a proper studio before. But it turned out pretty good and I remember that it was good fun and we learned a lot.

TheNwothm: Three years on came out “Turn On the Power” (1986) remains a landmark album in Swedish heavy metal. How did the band’s creative energy evolve during that period?

M.S: We were very creative during that time cause TOTP was recorded in oct-84 the same year that MOE was released. But our record company at the time was almost bankrupt and TOTP wasn’t released until early 1986 so we were lucky that it was released at all as the record company did go bankrupt shortly after.

TheNwothm: After “Turn On the Power,” you shortened the name to Mindless and moved toward a more commercial hard rock style. What drove that change in direction?

M.S: It was the sign of the times really and looking back now we shouldn’t have done that move.

TheNwothm: Looking back at Missin’ Pieces (1989) and the single Heaven Will Know, do you feel that era is misunderstood, or do you see it as an important chapter in your evolution?

M.S: All I can say is that we should have stuck to our guns. But it is what it is.

TheNwothm: Reflecting on that period, how did the Swedish rock and metal scene of the late ’80s influence your choices at the time?

M.S: I guess our kind of style went out of fashion and you could go the hairband style or the heavier thrash and speed/black metal style so I guess we were a little caught in the middle.

TheNwothm: What brought you back together after the 1990 split, and again in 2014?

M.S: First we got together for our 20^thanniversary 2001 and we played a gig in our hometown at the Ghost MC club just for fun. Then in early 2002 we were invited to play at the Motala Metal Festival. After that we talked about maybe record some new stuff but it never happened. Then fast forward to late 2013 when we were invited to play at the 2014 Muskelrock Festival to celebrate 30^thanniversary of the MOE release. We thought that is should be a one off gig but it has just evolved since then.  So here we are in 2026.

TheNwothm: How did the chemistry feel after so many years apart?

M.S: We have always been friends and never lost contact so it was nothing strange about anything. We just picked up where we left.

TheNwothm: Under the restored Mindless Sinner name, how did you approach writing “The New Messiah” after such a long break?

M.S: We tried even though it was hard to write and record it as we used to do and I think we got it pretty close. Of course we are better musicians now and we write in a different way but it felt pretty good after a while.